“Most Famous Canadian in the World”

Touring Canada has to include some educational stimulus with a visit to one of the country’s many museums. We chose the Norman Bethune museum and family home in the town of Gravenhurst, province of Ontario, as it turns out I am a distant relation of his. A sign inside the museum states “Norman Bethune remains the most famous Canadian in the world, largely by virtue of his status in China.”

Having travelled extensively throughout China, I can say without exaggeration that every single Chinese person I asked knew the name Norman Bethune, or at least his Chinese name, which is Bai Qiu En.  They will all tell you that they had to learn about him in school and memorize the essay that Chairman Mao wrote as a tribute after Bethune’s death in China. The result of Bethune’s legacy in China is that the general Chinese population exhibit a very warm and friendly attitude towards the Canadians who visit their country.

View photos from the museum.